Hurunui council seeks funding for storm repair bills

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Hurunui District councillors voted Tuesday to debt fund road repairs caused by storms in July and October.

It will seek funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to meet a bill of $520,000.

Chief operations officer Dan Harris said the damage caused by heavy rain in July and the October 14 wind storm was beyond the capacity of the council’s emergency works fund.

If the criteria can be met, the council would seek $314,000 from Waka Kotahi to help meet costs.

‘‘Many slips and slumps occurred, and remedial action is now required to ensure repeat occurrences are prevented,’’ Harris said.

July’s heavy rain and snow caused widespread disruption, with multiple slips and drainage overflowing,

October’s election day winds caused widespread damage, particular in the southern part of the district around Amberley, including power outages.

Harris said repair works would be completed by the end of May next year.

The council has responded to five major events in the last 18 months, leading to total repair bill of $1.65 million.

Waka Kotahi had agreed to fund $223,000 towards a $430,000 repair bill following a heavy rain event at Lake Sumner in July 2022.

Funding was also being sought for other weather events in February and July last year.

Heavy rain in February incurred a repair bill of $200,000, while erosion at Claverley Road, north of Cheviot, led to a repair bill of $500,000.

Harris said repair bills from weather events were a growing headache throughout the region.

‘‘Roading costs in Canterbury have effectively doubled, so it means we need to find twice the amount of money.

‘‘Costs for road repairs far outweigh anything we have seen before.’’

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.